Hybrid Associate Creative Director – Art Direction

at Raindrop

• Job title: Associate Creative Director – Art Direction
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $100,000 - $115,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, San Diego, United States

About the role

• Associate Creative Director leading creative projects at Raindrop, collaborating on innovative campaign solutions. Providing art direction from concept to execution in a hybrid work setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership across all stages of creative development, from concepting and pitching to crafting and executing production design elements such as wardrobe, set design, locations, and talent.
• Generate bold, innovative ideas that push creative boundaries while solving complex brand and storytelling challenges for our clients.
• Partner seamlessly with creative, strategy, and production teams to ensure cohesive, high-impact campaign execution.
• Oversee and produce detailed moodboards and visual references that communicate the creative vision clearly and inspire teams throughout production.
• Manage, mentor, and motivate junior art directors and designers, providing clear feedback, guidance, and support to foster creative growth and accountability.
• Maintain sharp focus on timelines, budgets, and deliverables, ensuring every project meets both creative excellence and operational efficiency.
• Lead the art direction of large-scale, multi-channel campaigns across film, digital, social, and print, ensuring a consistent and elevated aesthetic across all outputs.
• Facilitate high-energy creative sessions that encourage experimentation, originality, and breakthrough thinking across teams.
• Review, refine, and approve all major visual deliverables, safeguarding the integrity of the creative vision and brand strategy.
• Expertly balance artistic ambition with client objectives, translating brand strategy into compelling visual storytelling.
• Lead the development of production design for each project, including set design and builds, backdrops, flat lays, prop sourcing, and styling (product, food, or environment).
• Oversee production designers, ensuring they have the clarity, resources, and direction needed to deliver on the creative vision in fast-paced environments.
• Partner with producers during pre-production to identify and secure the right locations, set pieces, and design elements that align with the visual tone and story of the project.

Requirements

• 8+ years of Art/Creative Direction, including production design
• A creative thought leader, bringing fresh ideas and visual directions to each project
• Expert knowledge and usage of:
• - Photoshop (masking, retouching)
• - Illustrator
• - InDesign
• - Figma/ Google Slides
• - SketchUp
• Comfortable with (AR/VR, AI-assisted design)
• Understanding of cinematography and photography, and social media.
• Commitment to timely communication and excellent written and verbal skills.
• Tech-savvy and comfortable with project management tools such as Clickup, Dropbox, and Google Drive
• Expert Presentation skills
• Can lead a team/department
• Agency and/or in-house marketing experience

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance - generous employer contribution
• 401(k) plan to invest in your future
• New Hire stipend to support flexible working arrangements
• Internal professional development and mentoring opportunities
• 15 vacation days in your first year, with additional days earned as your tenure grows
• 10 paid company holidays plus 2 flexible holidays of your choice
• Holiday Leave
• Parental Leave Benefits to support you and your family